The Marriage Sacrifice

“Then we don’t get to mess around with them.”

He took a bite of his potato, and he looked off into the press guy’s direction. He spotted him, complete with camera and sticking out like a sore thumb.

“Don’t recognize him.”

“He must have followed you though.”

“Why me?”

“I’m the boring one.”

“The boring one?”

“Yep. The press doesn’t get any juicy gossip out of me. I don’t drink and party. I’m a good girl.”

“What about the steamy romances you write?” he asked.

“They don’t know. I keep that part of my life private.” She shrugged. “They need stories that sell newspapers and magazines. A girl helping out at the homeless shelter, I’m too good. They want someone taking drugs, partying, hurting people close to them. That kind of thing.”

“Is that why you don’t worry about just being yourself?”

“Pretty much. I also try to avoid all of that excess negativity. It’s not good for anyone. So that’s why I am like this. He’ll get bored.”

“Unless we give him something to write about,” he said, resting his hand on her knee, stroking her.

“What do you have in mind?”

Did she hesitate? Was there a catch in her voice? He stared into her face, and yes, it was a little red, but that didn’t mean anything. It was hot out, and she’d been red while working.

Sage had never showed any indication that she was attracted to him. If she was, this would make his job so much easier.

“How about I kiss you?” He leaned in close so she didn’t mistake any of his words.

“And how would that give him anything?”

“One, he’d have all the juicy gossip he needs, plus pictures, and we can finish our lunch job well done.”

“You think that’s going to be enough?”

“Why not? No one else has seen us together or watched us kiss. I think it’ll be a pretty good moment. We get what we want, and he gets what he wants.”

“I don’t like feeding people lies.”

“Is it a lie? If I kiss you is that so much of a problem? I’m going to have to kiss you to seal the deal.”

“Dom, this is what I’m talking about. You shouldn’t have to—”

He’d heard enough. There was only so much bullshit he could take, and right now, with her plump, fuck-me lips, he couldn’t wait another minute. Claiming her mouth, he finally kissed her.

This wasn’t a little peck on the lips either. He kissed her hard, feeling a response in his cock as it thickened. He didn’t touch her in any other way, but he had taken her by surprise, which he considered a plus because she actually kissed him right back.

Her plump lips were soft, and as he deepened the kiss, he wished he’d taken her to a room so he could do a lot more than kiss. He wanted to touch her. To put his hands on her body, to feel those tits pressed against his chest. He wanted to hold her as well.

Where had all these desires come from? He’d never once been the kind of guy to feel like this, to be overcome with need for her.

Sage pulled away first, but he wanted to keep on kissing her.

She licked her lips and smiled at him.

“Erm, I think he’s gone.”

A quick glance over to where the guy was, and sure enough, he wasn’t there. It was the first time he wished one of the press would have stuck around.

“Shame,” he said.

“Shame?”

“I was liking that kiss.”

She chuckled. “It was some kiss. You really wanted to put on a show.”

He watched her take another forkful of food.

“I wasn’t putting on a show. I wanted to kiss you.”

“You did?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Oh. You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” she asked.

“I seem to be surprising myself.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“I don’t know.” He took another bite of his baked potato. “This is actually really good.”

“I know. If I don’t have time to make myself lunch, I usually come here. I like being out in the open.”

“What do you do in the winter?” he asked.

“I eat at the home. I pack soup, or I eat whatever they have on offer. It’s all good.” She smiled, and he was totally drawn into it.

He’d never given himself time to think of Sage as an actual person. She was his fiancée, but she’d not even registered as someone he wanted.

After that kiss, there was a whole list of possibilities.

You’ve got to get your head in the game.

This isn’t about sex.

This is about so much more.

Your company. Her company. She wouldn’t understand, and the only way to get her to, is to get her to fall in love with you.

“What are you doing tonight?” he asked.

“Tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“Not a whole lot. It’s night, so I do whatever I need to back at my place.”

“How about I take you out to dinner?” he asked.